1972 Charger Shifter Problems?

[Elliott]

Hello everybody. I have a 72 charger with a 4 speed overdrive manual transmission. Been having some problems with the shifter. The transmission keeps getting stuck in gear. In the past I have been able to go under the car and pull on the linkages to get it out of gear then drive it until it gets stuck again. This time I can't get it out. I was able to get it home in the gear it was stuck in but now it is stuck in 2nd in the garage. The car is stuck in second and therefore I can't reverse out of the driveway, plus this time the car will not roll backwards, even when I have the clutch pedal pushed it. I have been playing with the adjustment nut on the release fork as I suspect that this is some kind of adjustment issue preventing the clutch from fully releasing. I have only done this a little bit and now the car won't move forward even under engine power so I am thinking that I adjusted it the wrong way. Thinking of trying to adjust it the other way and see if I can get it to at least disengage enough to roll it backwards. Anyone else encountered this problem? Any tips if I am on the right track here or if I am way off? Thanks

 

[moparmarks]

Sounds like its stuck in reverse and 2nd. My van with the OD tranny use to do this. You need to determine where the problem is, the shifter or the tranny. Probably the shifter but who knows. I'd start by unhooking the shifter rods from the arms on the tranny. Then move the arms and get the tranny into neutral. The use a 1/4" bit in the shfter to lock it into neutral. Then adjust the rods to fit.
On the bottom side of the shifter you'll see 3 plates that the rods connect to. Good chance thats where your problem is. The shifter is worn and is moving 2 plates when it should be moving just one at a time.

 

[EccentricMagpies]

might be that your synchro rings are going bad. 1st gear likes to get 'stuck' and I have to skip 2nd gear until the oil warms up.

 

[Elliott]

Thanks for the help. I have already adjusted the shift linkages so I don't think that is the problem. I found out after the original post that there is a loose part in the clutch linkage. I have to get that part welded and hopefully that will get things sorted out. The theory being that the clutch can't completely disengage because of the extra movement in the clutch linkage. I hope this is it. Thanks for the responses!